work dynamics

This week I started training in the IV room at work. I'm still figuring out the team dynamics and have had many impressions! Much like when I first started at LVHN, my strongest feeling is surprise/amazement. How are they getting away with this?? 

To give a little background information, there are strict regulations regarding sterile compounding that are enforced by the FDA and other organizations because the IV's we make have potential to harm patients if they are contaminated. When I first started making IV's, I was introduced to these rules by the pharmacists and technicians who trained me. Most of my knowledge was gained from them, but I also did some lessons and watched videos. As a new employee at LVHN, I've been assigned a more intensive course of lessons and tests I have to do before beginning sterile compounding. It's quite informative and in-depth, and I actually enjoy studying and learning the regulations. Part of my days have been spent observing in the clean room, helping with labeling and other minor tasks, while the rest of the day I'm in a quiet area studying. 

There's a BIG difference between my studies and reality. LVHN's facility is not up to standard regarding clean room construction and design, and their practices do not follow the requirements. They are aware of this, and recently got a new manager who is trying to remedy things. Since the rooms are not designed the way they should be, there's only so much that can be done. Employees can and should be required to follow the rules, though. However, I've observed very poor compliance in hand washing and garbing. One of the techs was caught going into the clean room to compound WITHOUT WASHING HIS HANDS. This is wrong on so many levels, and I can't believe he didn't have the personal accountability to know that even though he might get away with it, his actions could harm someone. That's just one example. I've seen other things happening that would've never been allowed at St. Joe's. You would've got yelled at. Sometimes their strictness and rigidity annoyed me, but now I see that's much preferable to leniency. We also frequently had inspectors come in and we had to always be ready for that possibility. I asked the person who was training me about that, and he said they don't get inspected very often. He also mentioned he was suspicious of corruption, and I'm beginning to think there's something to it. 

Some of the people who work in the main pharmacy have the impression the IV people consider themselves "the elite" and won't talk to the lowly people working outside of the IV room. I can see why they have that impression. I was told the IV people are a tough group, and I can see why I was told that, too. I'm not sure where I'm going to fit in with all that. There are some very strong personalities in there, people who are polar opposites of me. I was even told (jokingly) today by one of the techs,"You can't talk to those people (in the main pharmacy) anymore if you want to be part of the IV team." I let him know I wasn't going to be like that! They're a small group within a larger group, and that could feel more comfortable. On the other hand, I kind of get the feeling if I don't want to be part of their "clique" I won't be accepted. There's definitely some who have attitudes about other techs, and they talk disparagingly of them. Apparently to be an IV tech you have to be a bit of a drama queen/king.

To a certain extent, I'm not even trying to be accepted because my lifestyle is so different from theirs I might as well be from another planet. Music is a HUGE part of the atmosphere there, and they usually have it blasting in the clean room. It's the type that's on the opposite end of the spectrum from gospel music. I was told today that there are limits on the volume and type, but I wouldn't have guessed it. Apparently there have been times when people walking down the hallway on the other side of the clean room have complained of loud, inappropriate music being played. That's just another example of rule flouting, since it definitely would not be recommended to play music in a clean room environment. The person who does stats is in charge of music selection, because they have the most intense job and it helps them focus. What happens when I'M that person?? 😅 I mentioned to Cliff tonight that if anyone wants to feel like a pilgrim and stranger they should try working in the kind of environment I'm in. 

After the last post I wrote on my job, I had some questions on why exactly I'm not happy there. Maybe what I've written here will make that a little clearer. There's more I could say about it, but I think this is long enough for now!